Marriage license laws in the state of New Jersey, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the New Jersey marriage laws before you apply for a New Jersey marriage license.

New Jersey Residency Requirement:

The marriage license application is to be made in the New Jersey municipality in which either party resides and the license is valid throughout the State of New Jersey.

If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, submit the application in the municipality where the marriage ceremony will be performed, the license is only valid in the issuing municipality.

Please contact the Local Registrar to determine if license applications are handled during business hours or by appointment.

Note: For marriage license purposes, military personnel are residents of the posts where they are stationed.

Covenant Marriage:

No.

ID Requirements in New Jersey:

Picture id such as Drivers License, and certified copies of birth certificates, or naturalization certificates, or valid passports or alien cards. US citizens also need to know their Social Security numbers.

Under 18:

If you are under 18 years of age, you will need both parents to give consent in front of two witnesses in order for you to receive a marriage license. Those under 16 need judicial approval. In the case of pregnancy or the birth of a child, special provisions may apply.

Name Change:

Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.

Cousin Marriages:

Yes.

Common Law Marriages:

No.

Proxy Marriages

No.

Previous Marriages:

You will need to show documentation to prove a previous marriage has been dissolved either through death or divorce. Acceptable documents include a certified copy of the final decree of divorce or a certified copy of the death certificate for your former spouse.

Same_Sex Marriages:

Yes.

Remarriage:

For individuals who are currently in a marriage in New Jersey or are in an opposite sex marriage in another state or country there exists the option to reaffirm your relationship/vows by registering a Remarriage.
In order to apply for a Remarriage the couple must provide proof of their existing opposite sex marriage, meet the requirements for entering into a marriage in New Jersey and follow the guidelines above to completing the license application.

The process for a Remarriage License are the same as for the Marriage License, except that the Remarriage License must be accompanied by the proof of existing marriage and once the application is filed there is no 72 hour waiting period before the license is issued.

If you have special circumstances such as emergency, illness, military leave, etc., a Superior Court Judge can sign a waiver that would waive the waiting period. After you apply for the license, and have a Judge sign the waiver, you can have the License issued immediately.

Witnesses:

You will need a witness who is over 18 years of age with you when you apply for the marriage license.

Officiants:

Judges of a Federal District Court, United States magistrates, Judges of a Municipal Court, Judges of the Superior Court, Judges of a Tax Court, Retired judges of the Superior Court, Judge or the Superior or Tax Court who has resigned in good standing, any Mayor/Deputy Mayor or Chairman of any Township Committee, Village President of New Jersey, County Clerks, and every minister of every religion. At the time you apply for your marriage license you will have to provide the name of who is going to marry you, where, and when, and an address and phone number for the officiant.

Miscellaneous:

The Marriage License application is valid for six months from the date accepted, unless the Registrar has granted prior approval to extend the validity of the application to a maximum of one year.

The New Jersey Marriage license is valid for thirty (30) days from date of issuance.

A couple wishing to have both religious and civil ceremonies may be issued a license for both ceremonies on the basis of a single application. However, a couple wishing to have two religious ceremonies, and wanting to have a public record of each, may not have two licenses issued at the same time. They must apply for and use the first license. They must then return to the Registrar with the signed original certificate of the marriage and a witness to apply for a remarriage license.